Can Online Dating Services Succeed?

Online dating has become a normal phenomenon these days due to its widespread use and the variety of dedicated apps available. One reason for its popularity is the availability of completely free matchmaking apps for people all over the world. Many believe these relationships are superficial and doomed to fail, and they criticize those who rely on such methods to meet people, accusing them of lacking the confidence and courage to form real relationships in their immediate surroundings.

Psychology does not deny the drawbacks of this phenomenon, noting that those who use these platforms may be more prone to stress, social anxiety, and general unease. However, research by the Association for Psychological Science has shown that online relationships are not necessarily doomed to fail, especially with modern apps that match users based on cultural background, interests, and public opinion. The research concludes that success is possible despite the challenges, and the study also shows a recent revolution in the world of online dating, with many users embracing it thanks to its openness and new features that improve and reflect the quality of their dating experience in a more realistic way, providing credibility regarding their personal identities.

Given that online dating apps have now become a multi-billion dollar industry, it is clear they are not going away any time soon. In fact, there are indications that the next decade of dating will rely on technology more than ever before. Yet, it is more about the romance of the chat room, reminiscent of the romantic movies of the late 1990s, which will be quite different from today's dating world.

Maxion believes that "the dating revolution is still in its infancy with the emergence of new technologies, improved algorithms, avatars, and the Metaverse," adding that "there will be significant advances in specialized dating apps."

Jessica Alderson, a co-founder of such apps called So Syncd, says this app is inspired by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and matches users based on their personalities. Alderson believes the growing app market is a reason for her optimism, as it makes finding the right people easier. At this stage, she said, "Dating apps are taking a hybrid approach to reality—a setting where the physical world and digital content are integrated in a way that allows interaction with both real and virtual personalities, which is a step beyond augmented reality."

This is a common prediction today. Rachel Lloyd, a relationship expert at Eharmony—a dating site launched 12 years before Tinder that ushered in a new era of online dating—tells us she expects "the use of 3D technology in first meetings, where daters can see each other in a three-dimensional reality and feel as if they are together in real life." This technology is already at our fingertips, so perhaps the only surprising thing is that it hasn't yet been used for dating. Lloyd also pointed out, "You can see how successful this kind of thing can be with the new ABBA tour" (the Swedish band used augmented reality technology for their concerts).

From a personal perspective, I believe that online dating can lead to good relationships, but only in specific cases and when certain conditions are met. I do not think everyone who turns to this method lacks confidence or boldness; rather, I believe people here are primarily seeking intellectual compatibility rather than physical attraction, which increases their chances of a successful relationship. If physical attraction is not the main basis for choosing a partner, then the actual meeting between the two is less likely to result in disappointment. This is because disappointment often arises when one party is dissatisfied with the other's physical appearance, not because of intellectual differences.